JOY

I have found my word for 2022!

I did some praying, some reading, some looking and listening, and I decided on JOY. Just to be clear, I’m not confusing joy with happiness, because that is not what I am after. In 2022, I simply want to grow in gratefulness, I want to praise and thank Jesus no matter what comes my way, and I want to overflow His joy to everyone in my life.

This Christmas season, I’ve been thinking a lot about Mary, the mother of Jesus. I’m especially taken by these beautiful words she wrote recorded in Luke chapter 1.

The Magnificat: Mary’s Song of Praise

46Mary responded,

“Oh, how my soul praises the Lord.

47How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!

48For he took notice of his lowly servant girl,

and from now on all generations will call me blessed.

49For the Mighty One is holy,

and he has done great things for me.

50He shows mercy from generation to generation

to all who fear him.

51His mighty arm has done tremendous things!

He has scattered the proud and haughty ones.

52He has brought down princes from their thrones

and exalted the humble.

53He has filled the hungry with good things

and sent the rich away with empty hands.

54He has helped his servant Israel

and remembered to be merciful.

55For he made this promise to our ancestors,

to Abraham and his children forever.”

I will write more about the word REJOICE next week, but for now–

I encourage you to think and pray about a word for the year for 2022. God has such fun and surprising ways of showing us what he wants to focus on in his Word and in our lives. If you have yours, share it in the comments here or in our Facebook group Hope and Help: One Word at a Time. I’d love to hear it!